Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t5: Expeditions to the Western Oceans
Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s3.t5
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Expeditions to the Western Oceans
v2.c10.s3.t5.1
The full title of Xiyang Ji is *Sanbao Taijian Xiyang Ji Tongsu Yanyi*, and is also known as *Sanbao Kaigang Xiyang Ji*. It is a part of the Fiction of Gods and Demons written by Luo Maodeng (mid 16ᵗʰ to early 17ᵗʰ century CE) against the backdrop of Zheng He’s naval expeditions to the Western Oceans. It consists of 20 sections and a total of 100 chapters, with five chapters per section.
v2.c10.s3.t5.2
Plot
v2.c10.s3.t5.3
Dipankara foresees a disaster in the Eastern Land (ie China) and decides to descend to earth in a reincarnation to save the people. He is born in a family called Jin near the West Lake in Hangzhou, and becomes a monk when he is young, and is known as “Jin Bifeng”. As the reincarnation of Dipankara, he has supernatural powers and subdues many demons and evils. Later, he goes to preach at Wutai Mountain. Zhang Zhenren, an immortal in the Mountain of Dragon and Tiger, mentions to the Emperor Chengzu of Ming about the imperial jade seal, and suggests him to recover the jade seal that is now in a country in the Western Oceans, but to do so, as he says, the Emperor must eradicate Buddhism. The Emperor decrees to abolish Buddhism. Jin Bifeng hurries from Wutai Mountain to Nanjing, and defeats Zhang Zhenren in several rounds of competition in front of the Emperor. Zhang Zhenren accepts him as a master, and the Emperor makes him as the mentor of the state and takes back the decree on abolishment of Buddhism. The Emperor orders Zhenghe, with the title “Sanbao Taijian”, to lead an expedition to the Western Oceans. With the help of Jin Bifeng and Zhang Zheren, officers, soldiers, weapons and horses are mobilised, and treasure ships depart and pass by more than 30 kingdoms and encounter various obstacles and hardships, fight numerous battles with different kinds of figures (including gods, ghosts and demons), overcome all these and return back to China. The Emperor celebrates their accomplishments.
v2.c10.s3.t5.4
Expedition to the Western Oceans
v2.c10.s3.t5.5
In Ming Dynasty, Zhenghe had been to India during his expeditions. This fiction is based on books such as *Yingya Shenglan* (*The General Survey of the Ocean Shores*) and *Xingcha Shenglan* (*The Overall Survey of the Star Raft*), with some of its contents directly taken from these historical records, and customs and conditions along the Indian coast being mentioned. Many parts are related to Buddhism and reflect the influence of India. The writer is quite familiar with Buddhism, and uses many Buddhist terms and tales and doctrines. It also has a structure similar to that of ancient Indian folk stories, that is, a main story, which follows the line of Zheng He's expeditions, is interwoven with a number of stories. Some plot has an Indian tint, and is mainly connected with tales of Buddha, Jataka stories, magic power, metaphor and myth in Buddhist texts.
v2.c10.s3.t5.6
(*Xue Keqiao*)